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For our final government issue you have your choice of topic and will be working individually.
Your choices areSchool Children Bonus

NBN

North West Rail Link

Hospital Funding

The rubric we will be using to assess you is. Notice that for a B you need to do more than one issue in the time given, and they need to be issues related to two different governments(ie one state and one federal).
E
Elementary
Achievement
D
Basic
Achievement
C
Sound
Achievement
B
High
Achievement
A
Excellent
Achievement
With teacher assistance explains the structures, roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes of state or federal governments.

Has an opinion on a current issue.
In simple terms (1-2 simple sentences) and using a current issue explains the structures, roles, responsibilities or decision-making processes of state or federal governments.

Is able to explain their opinion on a current issue.
Using a current issue explains the structures, roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes of state and federal governments.

In their own opinion explains why Australians value fairness and
socially just principles in regards to a current issue.
Using more than one current issues explains the structures, roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes of state and federal governments.

Discusses issues relevant to more than one level of government.

In their own opinion explains why Australians value fairness and socially just principles in regards to current issues.
In their own words, and showing good understanding, using more than one current issues explains the structures, roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes of state and federal governments.

Discusses issues relevant to more than one level of government.

In their own opinion, and referencing others, explains why Australians value fairness and socially just principles in regards to current issues.






Learning about Government through the news


In class we will make groups of six. Each group will form a government. Each group will contain
One Mayor and one councillor
One Premier and one minister
One Prime minister and one minister


Each week we will look at a different issue that the Government is currently facing.

In your group you are to answer
* Which government has responsibility for this area? (it may be more than one)
* Who are the stakeholders? (people involved that are not in the government)
* What is your opinion on this issue as the representative for your electorate?

A member of each group will be asked to report back at the end of each session. All members are expected to record notes from their meeting in their book. Each week a different member will be in charge of chairing the meeting.

Our first news story is on the National Disability Scheme that was introduced as part of the new budget.


ABC news



Our second news item is very topical for us. The new Windsor Bridge.

Community action for Windsor Bridge

RTA



Our third news story is on the flashing lights that will be installed at every school by 2015.

You can view the media release from the ?? government at...
Flashing lights for every school




































Final in class assessment - Writing and Democracy Task
In September we will be having a Federal Election. As we learnt when in Canberra at the AEC many people do not vote correctly, sometimes on purpose. In the case of our electorate, which had a very close result, if those people voted correctly a different party could have won.

Write a letter to the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald expressing your views on democracy in Australia. Where it originated from, why it is important, how it protects our human rights etc.

Make it so that others are convinced of the importance of a democratic society and are inspired to become more engaged in our democracy.

Any of an A standard will be forwarded on to the SMH.



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In Weeks Six and Seven in HSIE Stage Three will be asked to do a mini project in class. This is to help us understand HOW Australia became a democracy.

You will need to

1. Choose a significant event from Australia's democratic history (that interests you) from the Australian Democracy Timeline

2. Write your choice on the long paper timeline in the classroom. Once you have recorded your choice you need to stick with it, and no one else can take it.

3. Research your event / person. You can start this at school and time will be included as a homework activity in Week Six. Refer to the rubric below to ensure you are on the right track.

4. Decide on a way of presenting what you have learnt in 2min. (A poster, powerpoint, speech, voki etc) If everyone wants to do a voki I will set up a class account.

5. We will present our ideas, in chronological order, on Thursday of Week Seven and Monday of Week Eight.


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A democratic country has responsibilities towards its citizens. These are outlined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights. You can find it at The UN Cyber School Bus

In class and at home we are looking at times and events where these rights are not upheld. The ABC's Behind the News is a great place to start looking.







As an Australian citizen, it is important to understand how our country runs, how rules and decisions are made for the benefit of us all. You can find out more at the following websites


Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade



The Museum of Australian Democracy - Canberra



Parliament@work



An interactive look at Parliament and Democracy or the more advanced version Parliamentary Education Office


If you find another website that would be helpful to the class make sure you let Mrs Usher know so it can be added on. Remember that websites that end in .gov .org .edu are more reliable than those that end in .com